formatting cells to show negative numbers

L

Lew Neiman

Hello:

I cannot get Excel to change a number to a negative
number using the format cell feature. For example:
I highlite the cell with the number in it. Then I select
format cells. Then I click on the number tab and select
the number option. I go to the negative number list box
and select my choice of a negative number. I hit ok and
nothing happens.

I have tried to correct the problem using the help
feature with no luck.

Could you please tell me how to make this work.

Thank you,

Lew Neiman
 
G

garfield-n-odie

The number that you're trying to reformat is probably entered as text
instead of as a number. Click on the cell containing the number. In
the formula bar, is there an apostrophe before the number? If so, take
it out.
 
N

Norman Harker

Hi Lew!

From your description, I think that you are attempting the impossible.
Formatting cannot change a number that is stored by Excel as a
positive to a negative. You can make it *look like* a negative using a
custom format of (eg) "-"#.### but that would not make it negative.

If you want to reverse the signs of all numbers in a range:

Select an empty cell
Enter -1 in that cell
Copy
Select the range you want to change
Edit > Past Special > Multiply > OK

If you just want to use the negative value of a particular positive
cell in a formula, you can use =-A1 but note that if A1 *is* a
negative, this will give you the value as a positive.

But Rule 1 for formatting is that it only changes how a cell is
displayed. It doesn't change what is stored.
 
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